The German government has made a plea to save energy for citizens in the EU’s largest economy because Russia has further reduced gas supplies to European countries.
Germany’s Vice President Robert Hebeck said the situation was “serious” and that it was “now time” for companies and ordinary citizens to save energy and save gas. “Every kilowatt hour helps in this situation,” he said Video appeal Posted on Twitter on Thursday.
Gazprom, Russia’s state – owned gas exporter, has recently reduced the flow of the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea to Germany by 60 percent, citing technical problems. But Germany has said This action is political Amid growing tensions between Moscow and the West over Russia’s occupation of Ukraine.
RWE, Germany’s largest electricity supplier, announced on Thursday that gas flow had been reduced. Italy’s supply was cut by 15 percent on Wednesday and Italian energy company Eni said the deficit worsened on Thursday, while Slovakia cut 30 percent of its runs. Meanwhile, the Austrian energy company OMV said it had been informed by Gazprom that supply would be reduced.
Russian supply sanctions came as leaders of Germany, Italy and France Visited Kiev On Thursday, the Ukrainian government expressed support for nearly four months of war.
EU politicians have accused Russia of effectively arming its role as one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers, while European sanctions following the invasion have raised fears of further retaliatory cuts by Russia.
European gas prices, already approaching record levels, rose more than 70 percent this week in response to recent restrictions on supply, reaching € 146 per megawatt hour on Wednesday – almost 30 percent a day.
Gasprom alleges that pumping equipment supplied by Siemens Energy of Germany reduced gas flow to Germany due to technical problems in the North Stream pipeline. Only 67 million cubic meters of gas is now pumped through the North Stream – 40 percent of its technical capacity.
Russia’s ambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chisov, warned on Thursday that the pipeline would be completely shut down if it had further problems with repairs, which could have catastrophic consequences for Germany.
“Why should Siemens send the turbines to Canada for repair,” Sisov Rhea Novosti told the news agency. “When all those turbines go to Canada for maintenance, it can be stopped. I think it will be a disaster for Germany.
Alex Miller, head of Gasprom, said on Thursday that there was “no solution” to the problem of North Stream turbines because only the Canadian plant could repair Siemens energy turbines.
Canada said the turbines could not be returned because it was the only country to introduce sanctions against Gosprom.
All of its other turbines were close to requiring maintenance, “but we can not ship them to Canada,” Miller said, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. He added that Siemens Energy was trying to find a solution to the problem.
Miller said rising gas prices had offset the double-digit decline in Gazprom’s exports to Europe and Turkey. “Prices have gone up many times. So sorry, but if I say we’re not angry with anyone, I’m not lying.
Hebeck said Berlin was aware that Canada’s sanctions could affect the maintenance schedule of North Stream’s compressor stations, but that this would become a problem in the fall.
He added that the technical reasons quoted by Gazprom were an “excuse” and a “political move” to cut flows. “[Russian president Vladimir] Putin has been doing from the beginning the fear that we will always do. He gradually reduces the amount of gas without reducing it all at once.
Sergei Mahogany, chief executive of Ukraine’s state-owned gas exchange network, said on Thursday: [has] Decided to pursue the expansion and threat of the EU.
Russia could make up for the shortfall by increasing gas supplies through Ukraine and Poland via the North Stream, but he said, “but they do not.” [the] The will ”to do so.
Meanwhile, Eni said in a statement that Gasprom’s gas supply shortfall had worsened. The company said it had requested additional supplies on Thursday to make up for the previous day’s cut. But Gasprom said it would provide only 65 per cent of Eni’s demand, or about 32 million cubic meters – far less than the amount needed to recover the lost blocks.
Eni said he blamed the Cosprom shortage on problems at its Portovia plant that feeds the North Stream.
In Austria, which imports 80 percent of its gas from Russia, OMV said it could meet demand by using existing stores and products on the spot market, despite lower flows, thanks to lower consumption during the current heat wave. “The delivery of our customers is guaranteed,” the company added.
However, researchers warned that the immediate gas supply could be replenished, filling the reservoir before the peak. Winter Demand will be much harder if Russian goods continue to fall.
Additional report by Amy Cosmin in Rome, Sam Jones in Zurich, Joe Miller in Frankfurt and Andy Pounds in Brussels.
